Good morning everyone,
Gina and I swam at Manly Dam on Saturday about 5pm and found it to once
again be brilliant. The water temp was about 22 degrees, quite warm
actually, and we basically had the whole dam to ourselves.
Below are the times that boats are able to use the dam, which means swim at these
times and you may cop a propeller in the face or back.
Monday - 10am - 7pm
Tuesday - 7:30am - 5pm
Wednesday - 7:30am - 7pm
Thursday - 10am - 7pm
Friday - 7:30 - 5pm
Saturday - 9am - 7pm
Sunday - 7:30am - 4pm
Swim outside of these times and the whole place is yours.
On Saturday the dam was closing to cars at 7pm.
Yours in swimming under 55 minutes,
Dingo
31 Oct 2005
The Animal in Florida
G'day all back in Oz!
Well we had a massive 30hour journey to finally land here in Panama
city florida.
I went for my 60k ride and run this morning -and - damn its cold early
on the bike. I started at 6am and I reckon it was about 10degrees -
wasn't prepared for that, may have to throw some arm warmers into the
bike bag for the race. It warmed up when the sun came out though, I think
the first hour will be chilly but after that ok as the race starts at
7am. No other bikes out either, nothing happens around here before
midday, I barely saw a car the entire way. When I got to the 6k run off the
bike, it had warmed to about 22d and perfect running conditions - I ran
around the resort golf course on pristine flat soft fairway grass -
awesome!
The course is flat - flat as - like riding from Centennial park out
to Kurnell. The biggest hill is a 2min climb over a bridge that you hit
on the way out and back, exactly the same as the one we go over heading
to Taren Point - I'll definitely be getting out of the saddle and
pumping over that as its the only chance I am going to get over the 180k.
Its pretty fast riding as although I don;t use a speedo - I estimate I
was riding about 37-44k/hr on my 10k e2 hits.
The run is as flat as a pancake - if ever there was a chance to have a
fast run split - this is it. Two laps on the streets along all the
resorts and heads out to a bay and parklands where the turn around is.
The swim is beautiful clean warmish water ,an ocean swim , its going to
suit me down to a tea , glassy conditions. Not as salty as hawaii, so
no probs there.
For those wanting to watch ironmanlive from what I can work out the
race will start Sunday morning 6thNov about 1am Aus time!
All in all everything going smoothly for a good race - no1 aim is get
that hawaii slot so I am trying to remain focused on that for now and
not on partying.
Have fun and I will send another report soon.
Chris
Well we had a massive 30hour journey to finally land here in Panama
city florida.
I went for my 60k ride and run this morning -and - damn its cold early
on the bike. I started at 6am and I reckon it was about 10degrees -
wasn't prepared for that, may have to throw some arm warmers into the
bike bag for the race. It warmed up when the sun came out though, I think
the first hour will be chilly but after that ok as the race starts at
7am. No other bikes out either, nothing happens around here before
midday, I barely saw a car the entire way. When I got to the 6k run off the
bike, it had warmed to about 22d and perfect running conditions - I ran
around the resort golf course on pristine flat soft fairway grass -
awesome!
The course is flat - flat as - like riding from Centennial park out
to Kurnell. The biggest hill is a 2min climb over a bridge that you hit
on the way out and back, exactly the same as the one we go over heading
to Taren Point - I'll definitely be getting out of the saddle and
pumping over that as its the only chance I am going to get over the 180k.
Its pretty fast riding as although I don;t use a speedo - I estimate I
was riding about 37-44k/hr on my 10k e2 hits.
The run is as flat as a pancake - if ever there was a chance to have a
fast run split - this is it. Two laps on the streets along all the
resorts and heads out to a bay and parklands where the turn around is.
The swim is beautiful clean warmish water ,an ocean swim , its going to
suit me down to a tea , glassy conditions. Not as salty as hawaii, so
no probs there.
For those wanting to watch ironmanlive from what I can work out the
race will start Sunday morning 6thNov about 1am Aus time!
All in all everything going smoothly for a good race - no1 aim is get
that hawaii slot so I am trying to remain focused on that for now and
not on partying.
Have fun and I will send another report soon.
Chris
28 Oct 2005
Spring Forward
****Don't forget to turn your clock ahead one hour on Saturday night
It's time for less light in the morning and long summer evenings
It's time for less light in the morning and long summer evenings
Weekend Training
Sat easy ride 90-100k –lapuruse –kurnell 6 am york rd gates
Sun 6:15 am york rd gates To sutho garage …
first hit through nat park at auderley back via waterfall and freeway
second hit (longer people)laps at kurnell
all explained on the day
run after as per prog
please note next weeks prog has option of nepean on it..ignore this as its now on 20th nov..do other option on prog
regards
jh
Sun 6:15 am york rd gates To sutho garage …
first hit through nat park at auderley back via waterfall and freeway
second hit (longer people)laps at kurnell
all explained on the day
run after as per prog
please note next weeks prog has option of nepean on it..ignore this as its now on 20th nov..do other option on prog
regards
jh
27 Oct 2005
IM Florida - Pro women
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.—Two-time Ironman champion Bella Comerford (Scotland), three-time Ironman champion Ute Mueckel (Germany) and 2005 Ironman Canada champion Karen Holloway (Canada) will compete at the 2005 Ford Ironman Florida being held on Nov. 5 in Panama City Beach, Fla.
Comerford claimed the women’s title at Ford Ironman Florida in 2002 and 2003. The Scottish native posted a career-best time of nine hours, 26 minutes and 17 seconds in winning the Panama City Beach event in 2003. Comerford also finished second (9:34:54) at the 2004 Ford Ironman Florida.
Mueckel recently claimed the women’s title at the 2005 Ford Ironman Wisconsin (10:11:22) held in September. Mueckel has also claimed titles at Ironman Germany (1996) and Ironman Switzerland (1997).
Mueckel finished third at the inaugural 2005 Ford Ironman Arizona and finished second at Ford Ironman Florida in 2002.
Holloway won the first Ironman title of her career at the 2005 Ironman Canada in August (9:51:31). Holloway has also recorded three top-five finishes at Ironman North America events over the past four seasons, including a third-place finish at Ford Ironman USA Coeur d’Alene in 2004.
More than 2,000 triathletes (including our Animal) from around the world are expected to compete in the 2005 Ford Ironman Florida. Athletes will be competing for 80 qualifying spots to the 2006 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, as well as a $55,000 pro-prize purse
Comerford claimed the women’s title at Ford Ironman Florida in 2002 and 2003. The Scottish native posted a career-best time of nine hours, 26 minutes and 17 seconds in winning the Panama City Beach event in 2003. Comerford also finished second (9:34:54) at the 2004 Ford Ironman Florida.
Mueckel recently claimed the women’s title at the 2005 Ford Ironman Wisconsin (10:11:22) held in September. Mueckel has also claimed titles at Ironman Germany (1996) and Ironman Switzerland (1997).
Mueckel finished third at the inaugural 2005 Ford Ironman Arizona and finished second at Ford Ironman Florida in 2002.
Holloway won the first Ironman title of her career at the 2005 Ironman Canada in August (9:51:31). Holloway has also recorded three top-five finishes at Ironman North America events over the past four seasons, including a third-place finish at Ford Ironman USA Coeur d’Alene in 2004.
More than 2,000 triathletes (including our Animal) from around the world are expected to compete in the 2005 Ford Ironman Florida. Athletes will be competing for 80 qualifying spots to the 2006 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, as well as a $55,000 pro-prize purse
26 Oct 2005
25 Oct 2005
Misconceptions
The 6 Most Common Athlete Misconceptions
By Matt Russ
In my experience, I believe there are a few common misconceptions many athletes have.
1. Miles = Speed. Going farther does not necessarily mean getting faster. If you put in a lot of weekly miles, but lack any specific training, you are really only (over) training your endurance. If you want to run, bike, or swim fast, you must run, bike, or swim fast. This means interval training for strength, power, aerobic capacity, and lactate threshold training. I tend to be conservative with my athletes’ training miles. I don’t want an athlete doing one more mile than he or she needs to. If your goal is to build endurance, it is not necessary to go more than 10-15% over race distance. Only a portion of your training should be dedicated to building and maintaining endurance. The rest should be shorter, more specific workouts that address your specific limiters.
2. A month off is good for you. Take a month off and you will spend the next 8+ weeks getting back to your previous fitness level. This means spending a large portion of the season training to rebuild fitness instead of building. Fitness falls off very quickly. A transition or maintenance phase is far preferable to time off. You can reduce training volume by as much as 80% and still maintain a level of fitness as long as you are training at the right intensity. Transition phases last 4-6 weeks and are an informal training period. It is a great time to cross train or do other activities. The main focus is rest and recovery while seeking to maintain a level of fitness. More than one total week off is not a good thing unless required.
3. I made it through my workout; therefore I ate and drank enough. There is a big difference between what is optimal and what you can get by on. I often see athletes gravitate towards the latter. Dehydration raises heart rate and lowers endurance. Glycogen depletion leaves you with little energy for high intensity work. Not eating or drinking enough degrades your performance. You may be able to complete the work out, but you could have pushed harder, gone faster, and accomplished more if you had followed a good fueling and hydration plan. The longer your training session, the more important this becomes.
4. I swear this made me faster. Some dietary supplements do work; most do not. Just because a pro endorses a particular product does not mean it will work for you. Don’t forget, pros get paid to promote these products and, therefore, they may have little objectivity. Supplements are an easy sell and have little regulation. All a manufacturer needs is a claim, a good marketing campaign, and an endorsement and they will sell just about anything. The supplements that do work usually have some sort of blind clinical studies behind them. Look for objective sources of information and be careful what you put in your body. Remember, there are no free lunches.
5. (Insert name here) does it, therefore I should do it. If you were to scrutinize 5 top athletes, they would in all likelihood find 5 different ways they got there. Training is a mixture of art and science. A good training plan addresses the athlete specifically and no two athletes are alike. Of course there are principles that should be a part of every training plan, but you should not try to copy another (successful) athlete’s training plan. It is like trying to run in their shoes. Recovery, limiters, fitness levels, goals and objectives, and experience are all individual factors that should be addressed in your plan. If we all tried to train like Lance, most of us would be dead.
6. Close enough is good enough. Training requires precision. For example, the difference between a good aerobic capacity workout and a non-productive one can be a few heartbeats and seconds. In order for adaptation to occur, the body has to have a new stress level placed on it. This means breaking new ground. If you apply the same level of stress, or less, you will not get faster. The nearer you are to your goal race, and as work out intensity goes up, the more important this becomes. Athletes are often surprised when I tell them their workout did not accomplish much because they were slightly below or even above where they should have been. They may have worked hard and were very fatigued, but did not have that last little push that to take them to the next level.
So there you have it. Put these misconceptions behind you and you will be well on your way to training more efficiently and effectively.
Matt Russ has coached and trained athletes around the country and internationally. He currently holds licenses by USAT, USATF, and is an Expert level USAC coach. Matt has coached athletes for CTS (Carmichael Training Systems), and has been certified by Joe Friel’s Ultrafit Association.
By Matt Russ
In my experience, I believe there are a few common misconceptions many athletes have.
1. Miles = Speed. Going farther does not necessarily mean getting faster. If you put in a lot of weekly miles, but lack any specific training, you are really only (over) training your endurance. If you want to run, bike, or swim fast, you must run, bike, or swim fast. This means interval training for strength, power, aerobic capacity, and lactate threshold training. I tend to be conservative with my athletes’ training miles. I don’t want an athlete doing one more mile than he or she needs to. If your goal is to build endurance, it is not necessary to go more than 10-15% over race distance. Only a portion of your training should be dedicated to building and maintaining endurance. The rest should be shorter, more specific workouts that address your specific limiters.
2. A month off is good for you. Take a month off and you will spend the next 8+ weeks getting back to your previous fitness level. This means spending a large portion of the season training to rebuild fitness instead of building. Fitness falls off very quickly. A transition or maintenance phase is far preferable to time off. You can reduce training volume by as much as 80% and still maintain a level of fitness as long as you are training at the right intensity. Transition phases last 4-6 weeks and are an informal training period. It is a great time to cross train or do other activities. The main focus is rest and recovery while seeking to maintain a level of fitness. More than one total week off is not a good thing unless required.
3. I made it through my workout; therefore I ate and drank enough. There is a big difference between what is optimal and what you can get by on. I often see athletes gravitate towards the latter. Dehydration raises heart rate and lowers endurance. Glycogen depletion leaves you with little energy for high intensity work. Not eating or drinking enough degrades your performance. You may be able to complete the work out, but you could have pushed harder, gone faster, and accomplished more if you had followed a good fueling and hydration plan. The longer your training session, the more important this becomes.
4. I swear this made me faster. Some dietary supplements do work; most do not. Just because a pro endorses a particular product does not mean it will work for you. Don’t forget, pros get paid to promote these products and, therefore, they may have little objectivity. Supplements are an easy sell and have little regulation. All a manufacturer needs is a claim, a good marketing campaign, and an endorsement and they will sell just about anything. The supplements that do work usually have some sort of blind clinical studies behind them. Look for objective sources of information and be careful what you put in your body. Remember, there are no free lunches.
5. (Insert name here) does it, therefore I should do it. If you were to scrutinize 5 top athletes, they would in all likelihood find 5 different ways they got there. Training is a mixture of art and science. A good training plan addresses the athlete specifically and no two athletes are alike. Of course there are principles that should be a part of every training plan, but you should not try to copy another (successful) athlete’s training plan. It is like trying to run in their shoes. Recovery, limiters, fitness levels, goals and objectives, and experience are all individual factors that should be addressed in your plan. If we all tried to train like Lance, most of us would be dead.
6. Close enough is good enough. Training requires precision. For example, the difference between a good aerobic capacity workout and a non-productive one can be a few heartbeats and seconds. In order for adaptation to occur, the body has to have a new stress level placed on it. This means breaking new ground. If you apply the same level of stress, or less, you will not get faster. The nearer you are to your goal race, and as work out intensity goes up, the more important this becomes. Athletes are often surprised when I tell them their workout did not accomplish much because they were slightly below or even above where they should have been. They may have worked hard and were very fatigued, but did not have that last little push that to take them to the next level.
So there you have it. Put these misconceptions behind you and you will be well on your way to training more efficiently and effectively.
Matt Russ has coached and trained athletes around the country and internationally. He currently holds licenses by USAT, USATF, and is an Expert level USAC coach. Matt has coached athletes for CTS (Carmichael Training Systems), and has been certified by Joe Friel’s Ultrafit Association.
Team Trial Tuesday
Dingo made a final attack to clinch the stage after a tough day at the park, paced by `Riding-into-the-wind Mark.'
Even JH decided to give it a go, showing that there's always a bit of fuel in those legs.
Good to see Gina and Jenny leading the charge, with Ish pushing on the hills.
Even JH decided to give it a go, showing that there's always a bit of fuel in those legs.
Good to see Gina and Jenny leading the charge, with Ish pushing on the hills.
Port Mac Results
The results for Port Mac are online, just follow the link on the right hand side of this page.
Congrats to Thomas, Eva and Christophe. Always another day for those who opted to regroup.
IM WA in November or Canberra in December!!!
Congrats to Thomas, Eva and Christophe. Always another day for those who opted to regroup.
IM WA in November or Canberra in December!!!
24 Oct 2005
Port Mac Top Five
Top five men and women - as noted in previous post, i don't see any additional results yet
Men
Name Swim Bike Run Total
Paul Amey 23.48 2.13.53 1:16:44 3:54:21
Mitch Dean 23:38 2:16:05 1:18:04 3:57:48
Mathias Hect 23:41 2:10:06 1:19:49 3:59:36
Luke McKenzie 23:37 2:14:17 1:23:28 4:01:23
Pete Jacobs 23:34 2:23:32 1:24:43 4:11:50
Women
Name Swim Bike Run Total
Angela Milne 27:13 2:26:26 1:33:11 4:26:51
Alison Kean 25:55 2:36:38 1:34:47 4:37:21
Charlotte Paul 26:57 2:44:56 1:28:54 4:40:48
Marilyn McDonald 29:59 2:31:38 1:39:57 4:41:35
Barbara Scatchard 30:06 2:36:46 1:36:09 4:43:02
Men
Name Swim Bike Run Total
Paul Amey 23.48 2.13.53 1:16:44 3:54:21
Mitch Dean 23:38 2:16:05 1:18:04 3:57:48
Mathias Hect 23:41 2:10:06 1:19:49 3:59:36
Luke McKenzie 23:37 2:14:17 1:23:28 4:01:23
Pete Jacobs 23:34 2:23:32 1:24:43 4:11:50
Women
Name Swim Bike Run Total
Angela Milne 27:13 2:26:26 1:33:11 4:26:51
Alison Kean 25:55 2:36:38 1:34:47 4:37:21
Charlotte Paul 26:57 2:44:56 1:28:54 4:40:48
Marilyn McDonald 29:59 2:31:38 1:39:57 4:41:35
Barbara Scatchard 30:06 2:36:46 1:36:09 4:43:02
Port Mac - Official
*I haven't seen any results anywhere yet .. Here is an edited version of IMG's statement:
There were 756 athletes, and 200 qualified for April.
``Great Britain’s Paul Amey showed a clean pair of heels once onto the run claiming his second win of the series, backing up from the Cannibal Gold Coast Half Ironman three weeks earlier. Amey exited the 1.9km swim within the lead group but it was Amey and Luke McKenzie who broke clear on the 90.1km cycle leg to enter transition with a 2:30 buffer over Mitch Dean and Switzerland’s Mathias Hecht.
McKenzie began to feel the effects of the tough bike ride once onto the run and was soon passed by a fluent running Dean. Dean however wouldn’t make any inroads into Amey’s lead, who had the fastest run time of 1:16:44, which took him to victory in 3:54:21.
Angela Milne claimed her third victory of the Snap Australia Half Ironman Triathlon series almost guaranteeing her the overall series prize purse as the highest ranked athlete. Again Milne’s dominating bike leg set up her victory, riding 10 minutes faster than her second-placed rival, Alison Keen of Colored, NSW.
Starting the bike leg two minutes behind Keen, Milne was able to take the lead within the first 30km of the ride before powering her way to victory with the second fastest run of the day. Charlotte Paul placed third overall with a solid performance with Canadian Marilyn McDonald, who is preparing for Ironman Western Australia in November, placing fourth.''
There were 756 athletes, and 200 qualified for April.
``Great Britain’s Paul Amey showed a clean pair of heels once onto the run claiming his second win of the series, backing up from the Cannibal Gold Coast Half Ironman three weeks earlier. Amey exited the 1.9km swim within the lead group but it was Amey and Luke McKenzie who broke clear on the 90.1km cycle leg to enter transition with a 2:30 buffer over Mitch Dean and Switzerland’s Mathias Hecht.
McKenzie began to feel the effects of the tough bike ride once onto the run and was soon passed by a fluent running Dean. Dean however wouldn’t make any inroads into Amey’s lead, who had the fastest run time of 1:16:44, which took him to victory in 3:54:21.
Angela Milne claimed her third victory of the Snap Australia Half Ironman Triathlon series almost guaranteeing her the overall series prize purse as the highest ranked athlete. Again Milne’s dominating bike leg set up her victory, riding 10 minutes faster than her second-placed rival, Alison Keen of Colored, NSW.
Starting the bike leg two minutes behind Keen, Milne was able to take the lead within the first 30km of the ride before powering her way to victory with the second fastest run of the day. Charlotte Paul placed third overall with a solid performance with Canadian Marilyn McDonald, who is preparing for Ironman Western Australia in November, placing fourth.''
21 Oct 2005
Maitland results link
Stitch the link together in the address bar to check out the results:
podium spots for tony, gina, mel, scott, kristy, ollie
http://www.mtc.org.au/
Category%20preliminary%20results%20Maitland%202005.pdf
podium spots for tony, gina, mel, scott, kristy, ollie
http://www.mtc.org.au/
Category%20preliminary%20results%20Maitland%202005.pdf
Racers Set
Have a great weekend to those racing ..
at Port Mac
Peter, Christophe, Eva, Thomas, Damo and Emily
or the 8km in Maroubra on Sunday
Margreet, Darren, Jo ...
at Port Mac
Peter, Christophe, Eva, Thomas, Damo and Emily
or the 8km in Maroubra on Sunday
Margreet, Darren, Jo ...
Weekend Training
Hmm people in different places this week…but those in Sydney
Sat 6 am york rd gates for easy 100k ride to waterfall and return
Sun 6:15 am york rd gates via lapuruse easy to kurnell but..
Those doing hits do 25k loops which is usual flat loop with caltex plus nat park to the end
Please note its bicycle show weekend too so please pop by to stand 311 and say hi if your going….i,ll try make Sunday ride but not sure about saterday yet…mone will be doing the port maq expo for those of u going there and needing goodies
Lots of new high5 in next week eg new gels and prot bar in choco yummy !!
Regards
jh
Sat 6 am york rd gates for easy 100k ride to waterfall and return
Sun 6:15 am york rd gates via lapuruse easy to kurnell but..
Those doing hits do 25k loops which is usual flat loop with caltex plus nat park to the end
Please note its bicycle show weekend too so please pop by to stand 311 and say hi if your going….i,ll try make Sunday ride but not sure about saterday yet…mone will be doing the port maq expo for those of u going there and needing goodies
Lots of new high5 in next week eg new gels and prot bar in choco yummy !!
Regards
jh
19 Oct 2005
Maitland Success
We await a proper report on a solid day for several hillbillies - several age-group wins and podium finishes.
Bentley - ruptured appendix
An update to those who have supported Lisa -
Unfortunately, after a disappointing inability to finish at the Hawaii Ironman on Saturday, Lisa Bentley was admitted to hospital in Waimea on Sunday where a CAT scan revealed a ruptured appendix. Yesterday she had surgery to have her appendix removed. She is having a tough day today, uncomfortable, nauseous and drowsy from the pain killers. Overall things went well and she has been prescribed 6 weeks of inactivity for recovery.
The doctors believe her appendix ruptured on Tuesday prior to the race, and subsequently she suffered from fever and continued abdominal pain. Three medical opinions were solicited prior to the race and she was prescribed strong antibiotics. Though her appendix was suspected to be inflamed, it was not thought to be as bad as the scan indicated. In fact the doctors at the North Hawaii hospital shook their heads in disbelief when the read the scan, that she was able to even stand, let alone make it to mile 10 in the Ironman marathon.
While it was a tough coaching decision to ask her to stop during the run, it was obvious her body wasn't functioning properly. We are all thankful that she was able to have the clarity of mind not to soldier on, for that is what her spirit would naturally dictate - to finish no matter what.
Source: Lance Watson
More Info: http://www.lisabentley.com
Unfortunately, after a disappointing inability to finish at the Hawaii Ironman on Saturday, Lisa Bentley was admitted to hospital in Waimea on Sunday where a CAT scan revealed a ruptured appendix. Yesterday she had surgery to have her appendix removed. She is having a tough day today, uncomfortable, nauseous and drowsy from the pain killers. Overall things went well and she has been prescribed 6 weeks of inactivity for recovery.
The doctors believe her appendix ruptured on Tuesday prior to the race, and subsequently she suffered from fever and continued abdominal pain. Three medical opinions were solicited prior to the race and she was prescribed strong antibiotics. Though her appendix was suspected to be inflamed, it was not thought to be as bad as the scan indicated. In fact the doctors at the North Hawaii hospital shook their heads in disbelief when the read the scan, that she was able to even stand, let alone make it to mile 10 in the Ironman marathon.
While it was a tough coaching decision to ask her to stop during the run, it was obvious her body wasn't functioning properly. We are all thankful that she was able to have the clarity of mind not to soldier on, for that is what her spirit would naturally dictate - to finish no matter what.
Source: Lance Watson
More Info: http://www.lisabentley.com
BRAT time changes
Hi all,
Could you please let everyone in your group know that the BRAT Club has
changed it's Triathlon times from a 4pm start to a 1.30pm start.
Everything else is the same as per schedule. The pool has been
notified.
Thanks heaps
Rgs
Luke Littler
Could you please let everyone in your group know that the BRAT Club has
changed it's Triathlon times from a 4pm start to a 1.30pm start.
Everything else is the same as per schedule. The pool has been
notified.
Thanks heaps
Rgs
Luke Littler
Hot summer ahead
Fed: Get ready for a hot summer: Bureau Drought
CANBERRA, Oct 18 AAP - Get ready for a hot summer, the Bureau of
Meteorology has warned.
In its latest seasonal temperature outlook, covering the November to
January period, the bureau said today there was a 60 per cent chance most
of the country would experience above-average temperatures.
This calendar year is already shaping up to be one of the warmest on
record, with the January to September period the hottest since records
were first kept.
The bureau said there was a 60 to 65 per cent chance of above-average
temperatures for most of Queensland, NSW, Victoria, and parts of South
Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
While days will be warmer, get set for even more uncomfortable nights.
The bureau says there is up to a 75 per cent chance of above-average
night-time temperatures for parts of southern Queensland and parts of
northern NSW.
For almost the rest of the country, the bureau says there is a
60 to 70 per cent chance of higher overnight temperatures.
The bureau says there's a 50-50 chance of getting normal rainfall.
Northern and central Australia have up to a 60 per cent chance of
getting above-average rainfall, while for eastern Australia there is a 40 to
45 per cent per cent chance of normal rainfall.
Climatologist Blair Trewin said there had been an improvement in the
bureau's predictions for rain.
``Our last outlook was suggesting quite a high chance of below-normal
rainfall, particularly in parts of south-eastern Australia, and this
outlook has backed off a little bit,'' he told ABC Radio.
``It's still leaning slightly towards a higher chance of drier
conditions in parts of south-eastern Australia - 55 per cent to 60 per cent but
that's backed off from the 60 per cent to 70 per cent we were seeing
last month.''
CANBERRA, Oct 18 AAP - Get ready for a hot summer, the Bureau of
Meteorology has warned.
In its latest seasonal temperature outlook, covering the November to
January period, the bureau said today there was a 60 per cent chance most
of the country would experience above-average temperatures.
This calendar year is already shaping up to be one of the warmest on
record, with the January to September period the hottest since records
were first kept.
The bureau said there was a 60 to 65 per cent chance of above-average
temperatures for most of Queensland, NSW, Victoria, and parts of South
Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
While days will be warmer, get set for even more uncomfortable nights.
The bureau says there is up to a 75 per cent chance of above-average
night-time temperatures for parts of southern Queensland and parts of
northern NSW.
For almost the rest of the country, the bureau says there is a
60 to 70 per cent chance of higher overnight temperatures.
The bureau says there's a 50-50 chance of getting normal rainfall.
Northern and central Australia have up to a 60 per cent chance of
getting above-average rainfall, while for eastern Australia there is a 40 to
45 per cent per cent chance of normal rainfall.
Climatologist Blair Trewin said there had been an improvement in the
bureau's predictions for rain.
``Our last outlook was suggesting quite a high chance of below-normal
rainfall, particularly in parts of south-eastern Australia, and this
outlook has backed off a little bit,'' he told ABC Radio.
``It's still leaning slightly towards a higher chance of drier
conditions in parts of south-eastern Australia - 55 per cent to 60 per cent but
that's backed off from the 60 per cent to 70 per cent we were seeing
last month.''
17 Oct 2005
Steph in Japanese
It's Sunday morning here at Kona and it doesn't resemble anything like what happened here last night. The town was packed with spectators from all over the world. Every Japanese spectator I ran passed wish me all the best in Japanese!
It was a great day for me and I loved it, every part of it. I tried to wave to every spectator I passed on the bike and acknowledge everyone who clapped for me on the run. I must say we are very lucky this year that the wind, heat and humidity decided not to come out all at once. It was a great way to finish my triathlon career.
Anyway, will catch up with you all when I return to Oz tomorrow.
steph
xx
It was a great day for me and I loved it, every part of it. I tried to wave to every spectator I passed on the bike and acknowledge everyone who clapped for me on the run. I must say we are very lucky this year that the wind, heat and humidity decided not to come out all at once. It was a great way to finish my triathlon career.
Anyway, will catch up with you all when I return to Oz tomorrow.
steph
xx
Tess - on holiday
Hello to all !!
Not feeling great today - it was a tough day at the office so to speak.
Suffice to say that nothing would stay down on either direction.
It was hot and I could not keep a gel or liquid down. My belly was 3 times the size
of normal and when I finished was in medical for almost 2 hours.
Anyway, I finished with a long walk, but I made it and that's the main thing. I
did my goal; to finish and I'm pleased.
Teresa had a great race and was flying on the run, and Steph the little
fox was fantastic. They deserved to do well and I'm pleased for them.
Contrary to John's report he did well and should be proud with his efforts.
I can't say I won't come back because that would be a lie but at the
moment I'm done. It's time to have a holiday.
See you all when we get back.
Aloha Tess and Mal.
Not feeling great today - it was a tough day at the office so to speak.
Suffice to say that nothing would stay down on either direction.
It was hot and I could not keep a gel or liquid down. My belly was 3 times the size
of normal and when I finished was in medical for almost 2 hours.
Anyway, I finished with a long walk, but I made it and that's the main thing. I
did my goal; to finish and I'm pleased.
Teresa had a great race and was flying on the run, and Steph the little
fox was fantastic. They deserved to do well and I'm pleased for them.
Contrary to John's report he did well and should be proud with his efforts.
I can't say I won't come back because that would be a lie but at the
moment I'm done. It's time to have a holiday.
See you all when we get back.
Aloha Tess and Mal.
JH on a hot day
Well another one down…on a v hot day but mild wind to usual standards…no cloud cover this year which always stops people in their tracks and plays havoc with their nutrition.
With my race I established very early that there wasn,t much in the tank after my food poisoning..my tum wasn,t rite even before the race and even during the swim...
i decided to start on the left side this year which made for the nicest swim I,ve ever had,hmm maybe too nice,I guess I didn,t get too much drag effect as I stayed way left to avoid people,I just wasn,t in the mood for getting clobbered….coming out in 1:18 which is the slowest ironman swim in my life didn,t make me feel too great,especially when I learnt others times were fairly normal…not a good start.
Onto the bike and it seemed that all I did was see girls or over 55,s lol..wow makes u realise how important it is for the best race to have someone to work with….so a lonely day there but by half way I,d caught up people my level..on the brighter side the wind wasn,t too bad.energywise I just felt flat but tum felt pregnant..just didn,t feel rite but wanted to see it through
Onto the run and boy its hot running with the wind behind u,I,d caught firthy in the transition who got out the swim 11 mins before me I think,at last someone I knew which is really unusual….well my tum wasn,t handling it and after 7 no2 toilet stops and somehow putting 1 foot in front of the other I got home a wreck..
bloody hell that hurt,it was pure survival for me which doesn,t happen too often thankfully,but those of u who do ironman will understand that everything must be rite or the run turns ugly..its a cruel sport in that regard….
i,ve ran this race sick twice before,oh how u forget so easily,it all came back as I thought of anything to get home…I was even trying to think about lance armstrongs cancer victims that I,d been watching recently..phew what a nightmare of a day !!!.....
i ended up 10:31 I think,doesn,t actually sound too bad,but on a day where all records were broken it was a chance of an easy hawaii day missed for me…that’s ironman!!!...but as I always say,its not just the race it’s the journey !!
As far as others are concerned I saw tesse a few times,she finished and got the demons out yayyyyy…I havn,t had a chance to talk to her yet but I suspect the heat played havoc with her nutrition as it did most people,
I saw steff somewhere on the run and teresa was catching me fast on the run..ot
oh…..i,ve been helping macca with his nutrition and understand he had some probs on the bike,again I suspect a few things there in the heat but sounds like he got it together on the run,I missed him running home as I was running up the queen k coz poo stop number god knows what….i bring this up because those that think nutrition in the heat is simple its not,its got to be exact but at the same time u need to adjust on how your feeling within the basic principles of your calorie/fluid reqts…this is not easy and takes experience,that’s why it takes people a while to win hawaii,
I think macca was 6th with the quickest run, I hope that’s given him the confidence to keep refining his nutrition system…and same goes to anyone in my group,with sloppy nutrition u have no energy and it becomes a nightmare.
On a different note thursday ironman officially announced powerbar would be covering the nutrition for every race around the world,I guess they paid for it but have the dollars to do it…I,m meeting dallas today to discuss the drinks situation in oz as powerbar don’t have one globally in the shops “yet”….
i,ve known about this for over a year….so its good and bad for me in a way,good because the cost of sponsoring these races without help from high5 just puts me in the red every year,but I never intended to do it for ever,just to get high5 name out there then self support which hopefully this has been achieved….but bad because sales will drop altho I don’t think too much with gels and bars.plus theres a few great anti cramp h5 drinks out now and most people only buy the month before ironman anyway…..just thought I,d share that with u as its on the ironmanlive website.
I,ll be back late wednesday,with a crazy weekend ahead of looking after the bicycle show at homebush and port maqurie half…hope your all well
john
With my race I established very early that there wasn,t much in the tank after my food poisoning..my tum wasn,t rite even before the race and even during the swim...
i decided to start on the left side this year which made for the nicest swim I,ve ever had,hmm maybe too nice,I guess I didn,t get too much drag effect as I stayed way left to avoid people,I just wasn,t in the mood for getting clobbered….coming out in 1:18 which is the slowest ironman swim in my life didn,t make me feel too great,especially when I learnt others times were fairly normal…not a good start.
Onto the bike and it seemed that all I did was see girls or over 55,s lol..wow makes u realise how important it is for the best race to have someone to work with….so a lonely day there but by half way I,d caught up people my level..on the brighter side the wind wasn,t too bad.energywise I just felt flat but tum felt pregnant..just didn,t feel rite but wanted to see it through
Onto the run and boy its hot running with the wind behind u,I,d caught firthy in the transition who got out the swim 11 mins before me I think,at last someone I knew which is really unusual….well my tum wasn,t handling it and after 7 no2 toilet stops and somehow putting 1 foot in front of the other I got home a wreck..
bloody hell that hurt,it was pure survival for me which doesn,t happen too often thankfully,but those of u who do ironman will understand that everything must be rite or the run turns ugly..its a cruel sport in that regard….
i,ve ran this race sick twice before,oh how u forget so easily,it all came back as I thought of anything to get home…I was even trying to think about lance armstrongs cancer victims that I,d been watching recently..phew what a nightmare of a day !!!.....
i ended up 10:31 I think,doesn,t actually sound too bad,but on a day where all records were broken it was a chance of an easy hawaii day missed for me…that’s ironman!!!...but as I always say,its not just the race it’s the journey !!
As far as others are concerned I saw tesse a few times,she finished and got the demons out yayyyyy…I havn,t had a chance to talk to her yet but I suspect the heat played havoc with her nutrition as it did most people,
I saw steff somewhere on the run and teresa was catching me fast on the run..ot
oh…..i,ve been helping macca with his nutrition and understand he had some probs on the bike,again I suspect a few things there in the heat but sounds like he got it together on the run,I missed him running home as I was running up the queen k coz poo stop number god knows what….i bring this up because those that think nutrition in the heat is simple its not,its got to be exact but at the same time u need to adjust on how your feeling within the basic principles of your calorie/fluid reqts…this is not easy and takes experience,that’s why it takes people a while to win hawaii,
I think macca was 6th with the quickest run, I hope that’s given him the confidence to keep refining his nutrition system…and same goes to anyone in my group,with sloppy nutrition u have no energy and it becomes a nightmare.
On a different note thursday ironman officially announced powerbar would be covering the nutrition for every race around the world,I guess they paid for it but have the dollars to do it…I,m meeting dallas today to discuss the drinks situation in oz as powerbar don’t have one globally in the shops “yet”….
i,ve known about this for over a year….so its good and bad for me in a way,good because the cost of sponsoring these races without help from high5 just puts me in the red every year,but I never intended to do it for ever,just to get high5 name out there then self support which hopefully this has been achieved….but bad because sales will drop altho I don’t think too much with gels and bars.plus theres a few great anti cramp h5 drinks out now and most people only buy the month before ironman anyway…..just thought I,d share that with u as its on the ironmanlive website.
I,ll be back late wednesday,with a crazy weekend ahead of looking after the bicycle show at homebush and port maqurie half…hope your all well
john
Europeans Win
(*a version of this is in Monday's Australian Financial Review)
Faris al-Sultan from Germany and Switzerland’s Natascha Badmann took the men and women’s titles at the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. For al-Sultan it was his first win, while it marked Badmann’s sixth victory in triathlon’s most prestigious event.
Al-Sultan completed the 3.8 kilometre swim, 180.2 kilometre bike ride and 42.2 kilometre run in 8:14:17 – about 10 minutes slower than the course record. Badmann won in a time of 9:09:30.
Australian women, led by Olympic silver medalist Michellie Jones, took four of the top 10 places. Chris McCormack led the Australian men, finishing in sixth.
Jones, 36, finished second in her debut at this race. Other top Australian women finishers included: Kate Major, 27, in third; Belinda Granger, 34, in seventh; and, Melissa Ashton, 32, in 10th. Rebecca Preston was 11th and Sarah Fien was 19th.
Among the Australian men, McCormack was followed by Luke Bell in 13th, Mitch Anderson in 14th, Craig McKenzie in 28th and Jason Shortis in 35th.
Al-Sultan, who trains part of the year in the United Arab Emirates to prepare for the heat of racing through Kona’s lava fields, became the second German to win the race in as many years. Last year’s winner, Normann Stadler, dropped out of this year’s race during the bike ride.
Both al-Sultan, 27, and Badmann, 38, will receive $US110,000 for their wins. A total of $US580,000 is awarded to the top 10 men and female professionals.
``I cannot believe I did it,’’ al-Sultan said. New Zealand’s Cameron Brown was second in 8:19:36 and Peter Reid of Canada was third in 8:20:04.
McCormack, who was the 1997 triathlon short-course world champion, finished in 8:23:52. It was the 32-year-old’s best finish in four attempts. He has won the Australian Ironman in Forster, New South Wales, in each of the past four years.
``I got the monkey off my back,” McCormack said, referring to having not finished in two of his three previous attempts in Hawaii. He vowed to return, saying he still wants to win the event. As for his race today: “I had a terrible swim, rode solo most of the day and I just closed my eyes and ran.’’
Jones went into the race in Hawaii as a rookie, even though she is one of the world’s most experienced and accomplished triathletes. Jones won the triathlon short-course world championship in both 1992 and 1993 and won a silver medal in triathlon at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
San Diego-based Jones qualified for Hawaii by winning the first Ironman race she contested in Florida in November 2004. Jones, who had the fastest women’s bike split at 4:54:13, had a final time of 9:11:51.
Major finished in 9:12:39, Granger in 9:28:16 and Ashton in 9:32:20.
*****
Denmark’s Torbjorn Sindballe set a new bike course record of 4:21:37. Karin Thuerig has the fastest bike split for women at 4:50:16.
One the most unique aspects of the race is that professional and amateur athletes compete on the same course at the same time. In all, about 1800 athletes competed, and were given as long as 17 hours to get to the finish.
Australian athletes were also among the top amateur finishers, including Ryland Garnett of Seaford, Damien Angus of Melbourne, Carmine Soriano of Melbourne, Sydney’s John Mergler and Perth’s Kate Belivaqua
Faris al-Sultan from Germany and Switzerland’s Natascha Badmann took the men and women’s titles at the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. For al-Sultan it was his first win, while it marked Badmann’s sixth victory in triathlon’s most prestigious event.
Al-Sultan completed the 3.8 kilometre swim, 180.2 kilometre bike ride and 42.2 kilometre run in 8:14:17 – about 10 minutes slower than the course record. Badmann won in a time of 9:09:30.
Australian women, led by Olympic silver medalist Michellie Jones, took four of the top 10 places. Chris McCormack led the Australian men, finishing in sixth.
Jones, 36, finished second in her debut at this race. Other top Australian women finishers included: Kate Major, 27, in third; Belinda Granger, 34, in seventh; and, Melissa Ashton, 32, in 10th. Rebecca Preston was 11th and Sarah Fien was 19th.
Among the Australian men, McCormack was followed by Luke Bell in 13th, Mitch Anderson in 14th, Craig McKenzie in 28th and Jason Shortis in 35th.
Al-Sultan, who trains part of the year in the United Arab Emirates to prepare for the heat of racing through Kona’s lava fields, became the second German to win the race in as many years. Last year’s winner, Normann Stadler, dropped out of this year’s race during the bike ride.
Both al-Sultan, 27, and Badmann, 38, will receive $US110,000 for their wins. A total of $US580,000 is awarded to the top 10 men and female professionals.
``I cannot believe I did it,’’ al-Sultan said. New Zealand’s Cameron Brown was second in 8:19:36 and Peter Reid of Canada was third in 8:20:04.
McCormack, who was the 1997 triathlon short-course world champion, finished in 8:23:52. It was the 32-year-old’s best finish in four attempts. He has won the Australian Ironman in Forster, New South Wales, in each of the past four years.
``I got the monkey off my back,” McCormack said, referring to having not finished in two of his three previous attempts in Hawaii. He vowed to return, saying he still wants to win the event. As for his race today: “I had a terrible swim, rode solo most of the day and I just closed my eyes and ran.’’
Jones went into the race in Hawaii as a rookie, even though she is one of the world’s most experienced and accomplished triathletes. Jones won the triathlon short-course world championship in both 1992 and 1993 and won a silver medal in triathlon at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
San Diego-based Jones qualified for Hawaii by winning the first Ironman race she contested in Florida in November 2004. Jones, who had the fastest women’s bike split at 4:54:13, had a final time of 9:11:51.
Major finished in 9:12:39, Granger in 9:28:16 and Ashton in 9:32:20.
*****
Denmark’s Torbjorn Sindballe set a new bike course record of 4:21:37. Karin Thuerig has the fastest bike split for women at 4:50:16.
One the most unique aspects of the race is that professional and amateur athletes compete on the same course at the same time. In all, about 1800 athletes competed, and were given as long as 17 hours to get to the finish.
Australian athletes were also among the top amateur finishers, including Ryland Garnett of Seaford, Damien Angus of Melbourne, Carmine Soriano of Melbourne, Sydney’s John Mergler and Perth’s Kate Belivaqua
16 Oct 2005
Kona Congrats
Congrats to John, Teresa, Steph and Tess ... we look forward to hearing how the day went.
Results can be found on ironmanlive.com through the athlete finder
Results can be found on ironmanlive.com through the athlete finder
15 Oct 2005
Cervelo - Top Bike
From Triathlete magazine online (and it got it from slowtwitch)
Cervelo Tops in 2005 Slowtwitch Hawaii Ironman Bike Count
By Jay Prasuhn
With a small crew of industry experts checking product as waves of athletes checked in their bikes at Kailua Pier Friday night, the 2005 Kona bike count ended and saw Cervelo as the new top dog on the pier with 195 bikes.
The count, organized by Dan Empfield of slowtwitch.com, stands as a bellwether of industry trend in the triathlon bike and accessory market.
As the sun fell on the horizon and athletes headed back to their hotels and rental homes for a final night of rest before tomorrow's race, Cervelo stood as the new top brand on the pier with 195 bikes. Trek, which has stood in the top spot for the last few years, had the second most bikes on the pier this year with 166. Litespeed moved up from fourth position last year into third this year with 115 bikes. Kestrel took fourth with 104 bikes, with Quintana Roo fifth with 90 bikes.
The biggest jump from out of nowhere came from Kuota with 66 bikes, good for eighth this year.
The aerobar count came in early, with Profile Design best represented with 599 bars. Syntace was second with 526, with Vision by Full Speed Ahead third with 156 bars. Easton was third with 64, while HED was fifth with 75.
2005 Slowtwitch Hawaii Ironman Kona Pier Bike Count
1. Cervelo 195
2. Trek 166
3. Litespeed 115
4. Kestrel 104
5. Quintana Roo 90
Cervelo Tops in 2005 Slowtwitch Hawaii Ironman Bike Count
By Jay Prasuhn
With a small crew of industry experts checking product as waves of athletes checked in their bikes at Kailua Pier Friday night, the 2005 Kona bike count ended and saw Cervelo as the new top dog on the pier with 195 bikes.
The count, organized by Dan Empfield of slowtwitch.com, stands as a bellwether of industry trend in the triathlon bike and accessory market.
As the sun fell on the horizon and athletes headed back to their hotels and rental homes for a final night of rest before tomorrow's race, Cervelo stood as the new top brand on the pier with 195 bikes. Trek, which has stood in the top spot for the last few years, had the second most bikes on the pier this year with 166. Litespeed moved up from fourth position last year into third this year with 115 bikes. Kestrel took fourth with 104 bikes, with Quintana Roo fifth with 90 bikes.
The biggest jump from out of nowhere came from Kuota with 66 bikes, good for eighth this year.
The aerobar count came in early, with Profile Design best represented with 599 bars. Syntace was second with 526, with Vision by Full Speed Ahead third with 156 bars. Easton was third with 64, while HED was fifth with 75.
2005 Slowtwitch Hawaii Ironman Kona Pier Bike Count
1. Cervelo 195
2. Trek 166
3. Litespeed 115
4. Kestrel 104
5. Quintana Roo 90
Kona Weather
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) - Weather could be a big factor for the more than 1,800 athletes registered for Saturday's Ironman triathlon world championship.
"It's been windier and warmer than in years past," said Rutger Beke of Belgium, who finished fifth last year. The stiff trade winds are forecast to lighten a big on Saturday, but could still be stronger at the northern tip of the Big Island, said Ray Tanabe, a forecaster with the National Weather Service's Honolulu office. Winds there can be "more squirrely and variable," he said
*AP is Associated Press
"It's been windier and warmer than in years past," said Rutger Beke of Belgium, who finished fifth last year. The stiff trade winds are forecast to lighten a big on Saturday, but could still be stronger at the northern tip of the Big Island, said Ray Tanabe, a forecaster with the National Weather Service's Honolulu office. Winds there can be "more squirrely and variable," he said
*AP is Associated Press
Race Day Check In
Race day check-in time will begin at 4:45 a.m. at the King Kamehameha's Kona
Beach Hotel.
You must bring your swim cap with you and have your timing chip secured to your RIGHT ankle in order to enter the body marking/swim check-in
compound.
If you have misplaced your timing chip, please seek assistance from a timing volunteer located at the body marking compound.
You must complete the check-in prior to entering the swim area. You will
be required to walk across a timing mat upon completing the check-in process.
Beach Hotel.
You must bring your swim cap with you and have your timing chip secured to your RIGHT ankle in order to enter the body marking/swim check-in
compound.
If you have misplaced your timing chip, please seek assistance from a timing volunteer located at the body marking compound.
You must complete the check-in prior to entering the swim area. You will
be required to walk across a timing mat upon completing the check-in process.
One Sleep
Ok, none of them are going to sleep tonight. Still, it is now the day before the day. Check in the bike and try to relax. Soak up the atmosphere.
You've worked very hard to get there.
You've worked very hard to get there.
14 Oct 2005
Aero Tess
Hello everyone !!!
Well this will be my last report before the big day and I must confess: can this little town get anymore fever pitch ? Met John down at the swim today and he is looking fit and strong and definitely in contention.
The buzz around town is that if you don't have an areo helmet then you simply are not part of in THE crowd. The bigger the aero the better you are and of course the faster you will go. Me? I am sticking with the conventional helmet, with the little cap at the front to protect my nose from getting burnt - I know how much you love it Damo !!
Things are pretty much all happening with Mal going to the expo everyday and getting as much free stuff as he can. So far it amounts to four free T-shirts, two caps, 2 litres of Powerbar recovery powder and a fuel belt and four gel flasks !!
He's loving it and goes to all the Pros talks and tries to ask a question to them all. Ask Macca about ``If the Germans decide to put on a big hit after Hawi, will he go with them and what is his plan to cover this nutritionally?'' Well..... So I don't know if Macca has this race sussed yet or not.
Mal then went to the gym and went through a fitball session with Michellie Jones and her sister -- since he's in the know with his Pilates know how.
Had a stroke of luck yesterday, went for a massage at the same place that Mal has been doing pilates and the head physio for the AIS was there and strapped my calf/ achilles with the newest technique that stretches the fascia and the muscle independently.
My achilles does not like plane rides and has been``there'' since I arrived. It's not serious and will not be a factor for the race but just treating it nicely in between time. He is going to re-tape on Friday and give me anti-inflam gel that the AIS uses for the race. Says he can help you Oofie and wants to help when we get back. He's in the know and he was a great guy to boot !! He is in charge of the Medical tent and says he will look after me when I get in.
Well, that's all folks but let's hope that the Gods of the Lava fields like me and the day is a great one. Either way I'm ready (I don't say that often) and let the games begin !!
Love to you all.
Tess and Mal xxx
Well this will be my last report before the big day and I must confess: can this little town get anymore fever pitch ? Met John down at the swim today and he is looking fit and strong and definitely in contention.
The buzz around town is that if you don't have an areo helmet then you simply are not part of in THE crowd. The bigger the aero the better you are and of course the faster you will go. Me? I am sticking with the conventional helmet, with the little cap at the front to protect my nose from getting burnt - I know how much you love it Damo !!
Things are pretty much all happening with Mal going to the expo everyday and getting as much free stuff as he can. So far it amounts to four free T-shirts, two caps, 2 litres of Powerbar recovery powder and a fuel belt and four gel flasks !!
He's loving it and goes to all the Pros talks and tries to ask a question to them all. Ask Macca about ``If the Germans decide to put on a big hit after Hawi, will he go with them and what is his plan to cover this nutritionally?'' Well..... So I don't know if Macca has this race sussed yet or not.
Mal then went to the gym and went through a fitball session with Michellie Jones and her sister -- since he's in the know with his Pilates know how.
Had a stroke of luck yesterday, went for a massage at the same place that Mal has been doing pilates and the head physio for the AIS was there and strapped my calf/ achilles with the newest technique that stretches the fascia and the muscle independently.
My achilles does not like plane rides and has been``there'' since I arrived. It's not serious and will not be a factor for the race but just treating it nicely in between time. He is going to re-tape on Friday and give me anti-inflam gel that the AIS uses for the race. Says he can help you Oofie and wants to help when we get back. He's in the know and he was a great guy to boot !! He is in charge of the Medical tent and says he will look after me when I get in.
Well, that's all folks but let's hope that the Gods of the Lava fields like me and the day is a great one. Either way I'm ready (I don't say that often) and let the games begin !!
Love to you all.
Tess and Mal xxx
It's a conscious decision
Have a great day John, Tess, Steph!!
``Pressure is nothing more than the shadow of great opportunity.''
``Most run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts.''
``It hurts up to a point and then it doesn't get any worse.''
``Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen ... others make it happen.''
``If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.''
*borrowed from many other people
``Pressure is nothing more than the shadow of great opportunity.''
``Most run a race to see who is fastest. I run a race to see who has the most guts.''
``It hurts up to a point and then it doesn't get any worse.''
``Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen ... others make it happen.''
``If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.''
*borrowed from many other people
I'm Back
Well it's Thursday now, and I've never seen so many people in this little town before.
Must be everyone over from the worlds becoming our cheer squad. plenty of hype around and a buzz in the air !!!...there's nothing like this place for that.
I'm feeling much better now, did my first run back today and felt a million bucks.. I'm back!!!!!!!!
Aussie mone now has an american accent hahaha..how funny is that !!
Carbo night tonight, going to zoom around the course today in the chevy just for the sake of it…then go to expo to listen to nutrition seminar for something to do
Good luck to all racing on w end
If anyone riding its easy week
Either 6 am york rd gates or 6:15 sun ..easy ride to kurnell and back
Aloha !
jh
Must be everyone over from the worlds becoming our cheer squad. plenty of hype around and a buzz in the air !!!...there's nothing like this place for that.
I'm feeling much better now, did my first run back today and felt a million bucks.. I'm back!!!!!!!!
Aussie mone now has an american accent hahaha..how funny is that !!
Carbo night tonight, going to zoom around the course today in the chevy just for the sake of it…then go to expo to listen to nutrition seminar for something to do
Good luck to all racing on w end
If anyone riding its easy week
Either 6 am york rd gates or 6:15 sun ..easy ride to kurnell and back
Aloha !
jh
13 Oct 2005
Registration Closes Thursday
Registration closes Thursday in Kona, with the bikes being dropped off Friday.
The latest word is from Steph who reports that the weather appears to be stablizing - that is hot, humid and windy ... but perhaps a bit friendlier than a year ago. In addition, Declan may be contemplating a return to the fold!!! More on that later.
As for our global correspondent, JH, he is apparently in better shape than a day earlier. Like all of us know, you go with what you have on the day and give it your best.
The latest word is from Steph who reports that the weather appears to be stablizing - that is hot, humid and windy ... but perhaps a bit friendlier than a year ago. In addition, Declan may be contemplating a return to the fold!!! More on that later.
As for our global correspondent, JH, he is apparently in better shape than a day earlier. Like all of us know, you go with what you have on the day and give it your best.
12 Oct 2005
Busy Weekend Ahead
There's the Maitland tri and the Brat tri and the Terry Fox run on Sunday .. and then something from Hawaii.
As for Hawaii, the pros start at 6:45am and the age groupers 15 minutes later. The course record is 8:04 .. so that would suggest a finish time of about 3pm Saturday, which is the equivalent of 11am here in Sydney.
So turn on your PC about 10:30am Sunday to catch the final stretch of the marathon!
As for Hawaii, the pros start at 6:45am and the age groupers 15 minutes later. The course record is 8:04 .. so that would suggest a finish time of about 3pm Saturday, which is the equivalent of 11am here in Sydney.
So turn on your PC about 10:30am Sunday to catch the final stretch of the marathon!
Farewell to Jens
Jens had his final Tuesday ride this week before he heads back to a new Germany. For those too busy training, there is a new government and a new chancellor -- the first time a woman will lead the country and also the first time someone from eastern Germany will run the country since the two parts were reunited.
I didn't have much of a chance to train with Jens but this is what I do know: he can run like the wind (a comfortable sub3 hour effort at last month's Sydney marathon). And he likes E3-E4 1/4 laps on the bike too. Nothing wrong with that!
It would also seem that Jens has managed to visit more of Australia in a little more than a year than I've managed in four years.
He has left more than 100 photos for use on the blog and as time permits I'll put them on display.
Thanks mate .. safe journey home
I didn't have much of a chance to train with Jens but this is what I do know: he can run like the wind (a comfortable sub3 hour effort at last month's Sydney marathon). And he likes E3-E4 1/4 laps on the bike too. Nothing wrong with that!
It would also seem that Jens has managed to visit more of Australia in a little more than a year than I've managed in four years.
He has left more than 100 photos for use on the blog and as time permits I'll put them on display.
Thanks mate .. safe journey home
JH Kona Update
Well latest is yesterday arrived at kona .. waited 2 hrs for hire car, wasn't going good… .. great apartment as usual,that was a plus…
went for v easy ride, saw stopped and chatted to a million people, including macca then the grangers, they are all feeling great!… bloody hell not easy to train here without a stop…
today lying in bed staring at the wall, fed up, down and out and really pissed off…for those of u that have ever done all the work for an ironman, then something goes wrong u'll relate to this…
it can be a really cruel sport sometimes altho on the positive side the journey is probably why we do it….. what's happened? .. for the second time for me here I've got really bad food poisoining, can't even walk and bedridden..
it happened before in 95 but I had 12 days to get over it, I got out of bed after 10 days and actually had a good day after initially feeling like crap… this time I got 4 days, kidneys and back hurting… if anyone has some hints to knock this thing fire away … I'm weak as a kitten
Hillbillie world reporter,kona hawaii
went for v easy ride, saw stopped and chatted to a million people, including macca then the grangers, they are all feeling great!… bloody hell not easy to train here without a stop…
today lying in bed staring at the wall, fed up, down and out and really pissed off…for those of u that have ever done all the work for an ironman, then something goes wrong u'll relate to this…
it can be a really cruel sport sometimes altho on the positive side the journey is probably why we do it….. what's happened? .. for the second time for me here I've got really bad food poisoining, can't even walk and bedridden..
it happened before in 95 but I had 12 days to get over it, I got out of bed after 10 days and actually had a good day after initially feeling like crap… this time I got 4 days, kidneys and back hurting… if anyone has some hints to knock this thing fire away … I'm weak as a kitten
Hillbillie world reporter,kona hawaii
11 Oct 2005
More tradewinds from tess
Aloha to all back in OZ.
Feel like I have been away for ages and I could definitely get used to the slower pace of this lifestyle.
A typical day starts around 6.30am where we have a leisurely breakfast looking out onto the ocean. Then a stroll to the swim start and check out the swelling numbers of athletes as they proceed into the water. Depending if I have a swim I follow suit or then head back home for a relax from the effort of my early morning endeavours or prepare to go out on the bike.
I have now ridden all of the bike course in various stages with Mal often dropping me off at a particular point and then driving behind me with the hazards on and the other side. This seems to have an interesting effect on the athletes on the other side of the road as they almost kill themselves to see who I am thinking I must be some big time pro.
Speaking of pros have been training with some and socialising with others. Swam with Michellie Jones at the local pool. We shared the same lane and she was pretty fast. This morning got onto the feet of Jurgen Zack out in the open water (only stayed there for about 300m) and had ice cream and coffee with Luke Bell at the Lava Java. Have also seen all the other big names.
See you all soon!!!
Love Tess and Mal xxx
Feel like I have been away for ages and I could definitely get used to the slower pace of this lifestyle.
A typical day starts around 6.30am where we have a leisurely breakfast looking out onto the ocean. Then a stroll to the swim start and check out the swelling numbers of athletes as they proceed into the water. Depending if I have a swim I follow suit or then head back home for a relax from the effort of my early morning endeavours or prepare to go out on the bike.
I have now ridden all of the bike course in various stages with Mal often dropping me off at a particular point and then driving behind me with the hazards on and the other side. This seems to have an interesting effect on the athletes on the other side of the road as they almost kill themselves to see who I am thinking I must be some big time pro.
Speaking of pros have been training with some and socialising with others. Swam with Michellie Jones at the local pool. We shared the same lane and she was pretty fast. This morning got onto the feet of Jurgen Zack out in the open water (only stayed there for about 300m) and had ice cream and coffee with Luke Bell at the Lava Java. Have also seen all the other big names.
See you all soon!!!
Love Tess and Mal xxx
IM emagazine
I just saw this on xtri.com ... a new online Ironman magazine ... it's free
http://www.imemag.com
I had to download a bit of software to enable me to see the magazine. You actually flip pages like a magazine.
http://www.imemag.com
I had to download a bit of software to enable me to see the magazine. You actually flip pages like a magazine.
10 Oct 2005
Worlds Race Report
What a day !!...full of things going on,great atmosphere and great race…
I started my day racked next to scott molina, those of you that don’t know scott, he was one of the big 4 in years back, including dave scott,scott tinley and mark allen
in the old days those guys would win every race under the sun, if it wasn't one it was the other..he held a camp in nowra 2 years back which some of us went on and some of u like myself got to know him well
he greeted me with the standard smile and handshake and “hi john” like I only saw him yesterday. my first thoughts were this is going to be an interesting day up front. for the record scott won hawaii ironman overall too.
My plan was go hard on swim and bike and back off 2nd half of run to save myself for next week,I followed it to the tee…
my experience told me that in these “worlds” races if u don’t have a swim u don’t have a race…no point floggin myself but I'd get a good pre hawaii hitout.. it went somethink like this…
Swim was usual shxt fight and like a washing machine, coral very low but not too bad, looked at my watch on exit expecting around 25mins (no wetsuit) but it said 28min..
oh shxt! god knows what position I was in..hmm maybe its long I thought,I later found out scott m was 8 mins ahead ops!....
out the transition and me and j mergler together on bike..this,ll be fun I thought,first bend and guy falls off in front of me,great!
...the next 10k I saw 3 guys hit orange cones,and a draft buster hit one missing my head by inches..hope this gets better I thought…
15k and finally theres a hill,I catch mergler back up and pass firthy..bloody windy and rains one minute bloody hot the next… bit lonely and uneventfulfrom the turnaround downhill and wind home,mergler gets a minute on me…into transition and I find my spot yayyyy lol…(not as easy as u think)
mone shouts I'm 38th in my age..hooley dooley I better make it a quick first lap I thought….took mergler and found a braziliian guy in my age gr to run with after one lap…ended up 15th and 38:30 run which was perfect to my plan…that'll do me, another minute and I would have been top 10…
good fun,good day,2nd aussie home in age gr,1st uk home and first norfolk islander haha
Other people? Didn,t see alice in the race but 24th is exellent(ref stephens email), pre race I was trying to get her head into accepting 30-50th and not feeling crap about it so 24th is bloody good with 7 min run pb
mark preston I think was 30 something, scott molina came 2nd in a sprint to the line with a mexican 10 mins ahead of me…not sure about anyone else as only had quick look at results on board…
That’s all folks!...aus team party tonight and off to kona in the morning
Jh hillbillies world correspondent honolulu 9/10/05 J
I started my day racked next to scott molina, those of you that don’t know scott, he was one of the big 4 in years back, including dave scott,scott tinley and mark allen
in the old days those guys would win every race under the sun, if it wasn't one it was the other..he held a camp in nowra 2 years back which some of us went on and some of u like myself got to know him well
he greeted me with the standard smile and handshake and “hi john” like I only saw him yesterday. my first thoughts were this is going to be an interesting day up front. for the record scott won hawaii ironman overall too.
My plan was go hard on swim and bike and back off 2nd half of run to save myself for next week,I followed it to the tee…
my experience told me that in these “worlds” races if u don’t have a swim u don’t have a race…no point floggin myself but I'd get a good pre hawaii hitout.. it went somethink like this…
Swim was usual shxt fight and like a washing machine, coral very low but not too bad, looked at my watch on exit expecting around 25mins (no wetsuit) but it said 28min..
oh shxt! god knows what position I was in..hmm maybe its long I thought,I later found out scott m was 8 mins ahead ops!....
out the transition and me and j mergler together on bike..this,ll be fun I thought,first bend and guy falls off in front of me,great!
...the next 10k I saw 3 guys hit orange cones,and a draft buster hit one missing my head by inches..hope this gets better I thought…
15k and finally theres a hill,I catch mergler back up and pass firthy..bloody windy and rains one minute bloody hot the next… bit lonely and uneventfulfrom the turnaround downhill and wind home,mergler gets a minute on me…into transition and I find my spot yayyyy lol…(not as easy as u think)
mone shouts I'm 38th in my age..hooley dooley I better make it a quick first lap I thought….took mergler and found a braziliian guy in my age gr to run with after one lap…ended up 15th and 38:30 run which was perfect to my plan…that'll do me, another minute and I would have been top 10…
good fun,good day,2nd aussie home in age gr,1st uk home and first norfolk islander haha
Other people? Didn,t see alice in the race but 24th is exellent(ref stephens email), pre race I was trying to get her head into accepting 30-50th and not feeling crap about it so 24th is bloody good with 7 min run pb
mark preston I think was 30 something, scott molina came 2nd in a sprint to the line with a mexican 10 mins ahead of me…not sure about anyone else as only had quick look at results on board…
That’s all folks!...aus team party tonight and off to kona in the morning
Jh hillbillies world correspondent honolulu 9/10/05 J
Stephanie Yeung – 1374
Steph `I need something else to do’ Yeung is our Hillbillie Kona rookie this year. And it wasn’t planned.
After competing in WA last November, then Forster (where she qualified in 10:23:43 – second in the 30-34 age group), Steph is preparing for her third ironman in 11 months. And then she says she is retiring. [We all say that – Ironman China is in April!]
“My first objective for any ironman is to finish,’’ Steph says. “Second is to enjoy the experience and soak up the atmosphere.”
Steph is the prototype of the Hillbillie athlete. The 31-year-old triathlete is quiet and modest . She has been competing for six years and has collected four ironman medals so far. Besides securing a Kona spot, her proudest achievement in the sport was learning how to swim, she says.
``I wasn’t trying to qualify, it just happened,’’ is something she could have said, adding ``I think there must be a mistake.’’ And of course she probably would have made this comment sitting in the medical tent – she has a way of collapsing right at the finish line, right on the line, after having given it everything to get there.
Training with her soon-to-be husband, that Irish bicycle magnate Declan, Steph has focused on her cycling endurance in the last year. Having a Teschner hasn’t hurt her motivation either.
As many of you know, it was during a brick session leading to Forster that Declan jumped out of the bushes at Centennial Park – in a suit no less – and requested her hand in marriage. He ruined the rest of Steph’s training on that day. [She said yes by the way, and the two will be linking hands in November.]
After surviving that park event, Steph decided that she needed more of a challenge so she took a new job, with more responsibility, started taking courses to further her accounting expertise and began looking for a house. And fit in the occasional bit of training too.
``This will be my last ironman,’’ Steph says of Kona. “I’m moving to a different phase of my life where there are new things waiting for me to embark on.’’
Perhaps adventure racing.
Stephanie Yeung – Race number 1374
After competing in WA last November, then Forster (where she qualified in 10:23:43 – second in the 30-34 age group), Steph is preparing for her third ironman in 11 months. And then she says she is retiring. [We all say that – Ironman China is in April!]
“My first objective for any ironman is to finish,’’ Steph says. “Second is to enjoy the experience and soak up the atmosphere.”
Steph is the prototype of the Hillbillie athlete. The 31-year-old triathlete is quiet and modest . She has been competing for six years and has collected four ironman medals so far. Besides securing a Kona spot, her proudest achievement in the sport was learning how to swim, she says.
``I wasn’t trying to qualify, it just happened,’’ is something she could have said, adding ``I think there must be a mistake.’’ And of course she probably would have made this comment sitting in the medical tent – she has a way of collapsing right at the finish line, right on the line, after having given it everything to get there.
Training with her soon-to-be husband, that Irish bicycle magnate Declan, Steph has focused on her cycling endurance in the last year. Having a Teschner hasn’t hurt her motivation either.
As many of you know, it was during a brick session leading to Forster that Declan jumped out of the bushes at Centennial Park – in a suit no less – and requested her hand in marriage. He ruined the rest of Steph’s training on that day. [She said yes by the way, and the two will be linking hands in November.]
After surviving that park event, Steph decided that she needed more of a challenge so she took a new job, with more responsibility, started taking courses to further her accounting expertise and began looking for a house. And fit in the occasional bit of training too.
``This will be my last ironman,’’ Steph says of Kona. “I’m moving to a different phase of my life where there are new things waiting for me to embark on.’’
Perhaps adventure racing.
Stephanie Yeung – Race number 1374
9 Oct 2005
Pre-Worlds Report
Well it’s the day before the worlds and the wind is howling as it has been everyday, sea is like a washing mc and that'll help the aussies and Norfolk islanders
jh has his new race outfit and it sticks out like a sore thumb with a big tree on the front..why don’t ask me but it does cause a chuckle (Norfolk Island Pine -- every real Norfolk Islander knows!!)
this week some idiot sprayed the course with glass, about 50 cyclists got punctures …could it be the local bike shop I wonder?
the athlete parade was great of which the nz haka was just brilliant!... every 200m the kiwis walked normal then stopped, ripped off their shirts and got into the full haka ... god it was impressive, the chicks went crazy ... they had goose pimples while they were doing it and dribble down their mouths, I'm thinking of starting a norfolk island one up???
Overall a great atmosphere here and it helps with the hawaian sun sea and sand. i even had a go at surfing yesterday and got up twice in the baby waves with a big board, mones self claimed expert,tony golden and Stephen seem to live out there and alice keeps tripping over her bottom lip because she's not got up yet .. haha ..
Lots of guns in every age group and big teams from usa, gb and nz as well as aussies…spotted a few other locals here and there,
mark preston,tim mathews,tory,sarah plus a few others… good luck to all and go Norfolk island !!!!
jh
jh has his new race outfit and it sticks out like a sore thumb with a big tree on the front..why don’t ask me but it does cause a chuckle (Norfolk Island Pine -- every real Norfolk Islander knows!!)
this week some idiot sprayed the course with glass, about 50 cyclists got punctures …could it be the local bike shop I wonder?
the athlete parade was great of which the nz haka was just brilliant!... every 200m the kiwis walked normal then stopped, ripped off their shirts and got into the full haka ... god it was impressive, the chicks went crazy ... they had goose pimples while they were doing it and dribble down their mouths, I'm thinking of starting a norfolk island one up???
Overall a great atmosphere here and it helps with the hawaian sun sea and sand. i even had a go at surfing yesterday and got up twice in the baby waves with a big board, mones self claimed expert,tony golden and Stephen seem to live out there and alice keeps tripping over her bottom lip because she's not got up yet .. haha ..
Lots of guns in every age group and big teams from usa, gb and nz as well as aussies…spotted a few other locals here and there,
mark preston,tim mathews,tory,sarah plus a few others… good luck to all and go Norfolk island !!!!
jh
8 Oct 2005
24 hours
Haven't entered a 24-hour mountain bike race yet? Well, ask David Thomas or Mic Croft after this weekend. Though, they did it the easy way -- a team of four.
http://www.corc.asn.au/24hr/index.asp
http://www.corc.asn.au/24hr/index.asp
City Bike Depot
New Bike Shop Opening in the City
City Bike Depot – 305 Kent St
Free breakie between 7-9am on Wednesday for bikers and biker commuters
-source: gina
Pro Men Race Preview
From ironmanlive.com
"There are also a few men who could end up being in contention to win or place well if things go their way on the Big Island come October 15.
Include in that list one Chris McCormack, who is seemingly unbeatable everywhere else, but appears to have convinced himself he can’t race in the heat.
Macca spent a month training in Kona recently in the hopes of acclimatizing himself … could this be his year to break through?"
http://vnews.ironmanlive.com/vnews/
topstories/1128697660
"There are also a few men who could end up being in contention to win or place well if things go their way on the Big Island come October 15.
Include in that list one Chris McCormack, who is seemingly unbeatable everywhere else, but appears to have convinced himself he can’t race in the heat.
Macca spent a month training in Kona recently in the hopes of acclimatizing himself … could this be his year to break through?"
http://vnews.ironmanlive.com/vnews/
topstories/1128697660
Age Group Worlds
The 2005 ITU World Triathlon Championship for age groups and athletes with a disability (AWAD) will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday, October 9th.
The 1.5km swim, 40 km cycle and 10km run event will be conducted over the Olympic distance.
Over 2,000 athletes from 35 countries have gathered at Waikiki Beach for one of the largest ever World Championships to be staged since the founding of ITU in 1989.
Results will be posted on www.triathlon.org as soon as splits are available
The 1.5km swim, 40 km cycle and 10km run event will be conducted over the Olympic distance.
Over 2,000 athletes from 35 countries have gathered at Waikiki Beach for one of the largest ever World Championships to be staged since the founding of ITU in 1989.
Results will be posted on www.triathlon.org as soon as splits are available
7 Oct 2005
Tess Waterhouse - 1372
Tess Waterhouse is the smiling assassin, the one who powers her way around a course.
Since joining the Hillbillies, the quiet and unassuming school teacher has pushed herself - and those of us around her - to train hard and race harder. She is typical of many high achievers who find that something extra on race day.
Heading back to Kona this year, Tess is more experienced. She's also in good form. She is more in sync with her training and her fitness than ever. She didn't dwell on her misfortune last year. It happened; it's in the past. It did give her a chance to check out PART of the course and watch some of the race too. And it apparently helped her find the inspiration to train another season.
“She has always been someone to challenge herself,’’ says Chris. “I remember when she wasn’t even racing. She was a member of an elite swim squad in Homebush, which saw her pump out five to seven squads a week.’’
And Tess certainly knows how to swim. She takes the hard-earned time advantage from the swim (finding a way to dodge and weave her way through a lot of age-group men elbows) and paces herself through the bike before heading out at top speed on the run. [She even ran with Macca at Forster!]
In training for the 2005 World Champs, Tess took second in her age group at the Cairns half. She got her Kona spot with a convincing 30-34 age group win at Forster in 10:16:14. (Steph - her profile will appear next - came second, Jenny was fifth and Eva was tenth.)
Tess has put together a consistent string of podium finishes in the last two seasons, carefully managed by her fast-walking, smooth-talking agent Mal.
“Her best weapons are determination and a fantastic attitude,” says Chris, and who among us can argue with that. Unlike those of us who ride like demons in the park on Tuesday mornings, Tess pushes herself to the edge on a wind trainer in solitude. She has put in the time and effort, allowing her to reap the rewards with another appearance in Hawaii.
Tess Waterhouse – Race number 1372
Since joining the Hillbillies, the quiet and unassuming school teacher has pushed herself - and those of us around her - to train hard and race harder. She is typical of many high achievers who find that something extra on race day.
Heading back to Kona this year, Tess is more experienced. She's also in good form. She is more in sync with her training and her fitness than ever. She didn't dwell on her misfortune last year. It happened; it's in the past. It did give her a chance to check out PART of the course and watch some of the race too. And it apparently helped her find the inspiration to train another season.
“She has always been someone to challenge herself,’’ says Chris. “I remember when she wasn’t even racing. She was a member of an elite swim squad in Homebush, which saw her pump out five to seven squads a week.’’
And Tess certainly knows how to swim. She takes the hard-earned time advantage from the swim (finding a way to dodge and weave her way through a lot of age-group men elbows) and paces herself through the bike before heading out at top speed on the run. [She even ran with Macca at Forster!]
In training for the 2005 World Champs, Tess took second in her age group at the Cairns half. She got her Kona spot with a convincing 30-34 age group win at Forster in 10:16:14. (Steph - her profile will appear next - came second, Jenny was fifth and Eva was tenth.)
Tess has put together a consistent string of podium finishes in the last two seasons, carefully managed by her fast-walking, smooth-talking agent Mal.
“Her best weapons are determination and a fantastic attitude,” says Chris, and who among us can argue with that. Unlike those of us who ride like demons in the park on Tuesday mornings, Tess pushes herself to the edge on a wind trainer in solitude. She has put in the time and effort, allowing her to reap the rewards with another appearance in Hawaii.
Tess Waterhouse – Race number 1372
Weekend Training
Sat bike 6 am york rd gates..easy flat to kurnell via la puruse….save yourself for Sunday
Sun bike 6:15 am york rd gates
Easy bike via la puruse to sutho garage
1st hit
start when going into auderley…30k out and 30k back through nat park,back nat park
re group at sutho garage ,,(maybe 2 groups?)
shorter distance group back to centenial park with hit 2 10k pacey but altogether from brighton le sands to ikea corner(safe)
longer group 2nd hit…easy to kurnell then 2 x e2 laps at kurnell (with nat park depending on km,s reqd)
regards and aloha from exstemely windy hawaii
Sun bike 6:15 am york rd gates
Easy bike via la puruse to sutho garage
1st hit
start when going into auderley…30k out and 30k back through nat park,back nat park
re group at sutho garage ,,(maybe 2 groups?)
shorter distance group back to centenial park with hit 2 10k pacey but altogether from brighton le sands to ikea corner(safe)
longer group 2nd hit…easy to kurnell then 2 x e2 laps at kurnell (with nat park depending on km,s reqd)
regards and aloha from exstemely windy hawaii
Long live carbon!
From slowtwitch on interbike:
"In the certain resulting global market shift, the biggest losers will be factories devoted to fabricating out of aluminum. Good looking monocoque carbon frames are now available out of the Orient for $250 a-pop, if you buy enough of them. Just wait until more football-field-sized pre-preg factories are built in China, accommoding both the bike biz and the Airbuses (the latter of which are sucking up much of the carbon nowadays, causing shortages that currently push up the carbon price, but only in the sort term). Steel is dead. Aluminum is dieing. Long live carbon."
http://www.slowtwitch.com/
"In the certain resulting global market shift, the biggest losers will be factories devoted to fabricating out of aluminum. Good looking monocoque carbon frames are now available out of the Orient for $250 a-pop, if you buy enough of them. Just wait until more football-field-sized pre-preg factories are built in China, accommoding both the bike biz and the Airbuses (the latter of which are sucking up much of the carbon nowadays, causing shortages that currently push up the carbon price, but only in the sort term). Steel is dead. Aluminum is dieing. Long live carbon."
http://www.slowtwitch.com/
6 Oct 2005
Kona Tipping
Data is being compiled, send along your top three forecast results.
Whoever is the most prescient, will win a six-week training camp in Ibiza*
*subject to negotiation and all local, regional, national and international convenants
**must be a dues paying hillbillie and be able to answer a very very difficult question
Whoever is the most prescient, will win a six-week training camp in Ibiza*
*subject to negotiation and all local, regional, national and international convenants
**must be a dues paying hillbillie and be able to answer a very very difficult question
Kona 2004 Pros
Top Women
1 9:50:04 BADMANN 1:01:36 5:31:37 3:11:45
2 9:56:19 FUHR 1:01:18 5:44:12 3:06:04
3 10:01:56 MAJOR 1:01:05 5:38:51 3:17:39
4 10:04:16 BENTLEY 1:01:05 5:50:11 3:06:17
5 10:05:10 LAWN 56:37 5:46:09 3:17:44
Top Men
1 8:33:29 STADLER 54:27 4:37:58 2:57:53
2 8:43:40 REID 53:12 5:01:38 2:46:10
3 8:45:14 AL-SULTAN 50:39 4:55:44 2:54:51
4 8:48:35 TAUBERT 53:24 4:49:45 3:00:37
5 8:54:26 BEKE 54:35 4:59:57 2:55:55
1 9:50:04 BADMANN 1:01:36 5:31:37 3:11:45
2 9:56:19 FUHR 1:01:18 5:44:12 3:06:04
3 10:01:56 MAJOR 1:01:05 5:38:51 3:17:39
4 10:04:16 BENTLEY 1:01:05 5:50:11 3:06:17
5 10:05:10 LAWN 56:37 5:46:09 3:17:44
Top Men
1 8:33:29 STADLER 54:27 4:37:58 2:57:53
2 8:43:40 REID 53:12 5:01:38 2:46:10
3 8:45:14 AL-SULTAN 50:39 4:55:44 2:54:51
4 8:48:35 TAUBERT 53:24 4:49:45 3:00:37
5 8:54:26 BEKE 54:35 4:59:57 2:55:55
Two Forums
In the event you haven't bookmarked them already, here are two forums worth looking at for a mix of thoughts on just about everything tri-related:
Gordo's at:
http://www.coachgordo.com/forum2/upload/index.php
Slowtwitch at:
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/
Gordo's at:
http://www.coachgordo.com/forum2/upload/index.php
Slowtwitch at:
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/
What it takes?
Just happened to see that a documentary is being made about four triathletes (Reid, Bell, Bowden and Fuhr) ..
http://www.witmovie.com
http://www.witmovie.com
Pro Women Race Preview
There's a story on ironmanlive previewing the pro women's race. Natasha gets the headline though Kate Major and Belinda Granger get solid mentions.
http://vnews.ironmanlive.com/vnews/topstories/1128442279/
http://vnews.ironmanlive.com/vnews/topstories/1128442279/
Tradewinds from Tess
Hello to all !!
I am reporting from the centre of Triathlon fever - Kona and the amount of athletes grows everyday.
It's nice to finally be in taper as I get to watch all the Hollywood gossip programs on the TV.
Been on the bike a number of times, did my last 100k to Hawi and really had to hold on tight to the handle bars to keep on the bike - the tradewinds are here in full force !!
Exactly like last year's race conditions with the swell in the bay and everything !!
Everyone is racing around on their bikes pushing massive gears and here I am enjoying the view and going easy !!
Well I am missing you all. See you all soon.
Aloha Mal and Tess xxx
I am reporting from the centre of Triathlon fever - Kona and the amount of athletes grows everyday.
It's nice to finally be in taper as I get to watch all the Hollywood gossip programs on the TV.
Been on the bike a number of times, did my last 100k to Hawi and really had to hold on tight to the handle bars to keep on the bike - the tradewinds are here in full force !!
Exactly like last year's race conditions with the swell in the bay and everything !!
Everyone is racing around on their bikes pushing massive gears and here I am enjoying the view and going easy !!
Well I am missing you all. See you all soon.
Aloha Mal and Tess xxx
5 Oct 2005
The Animal Roars ...1
It's getting real hot now and the Sunday brick is getting super tough.
This past Sunday I think I speak for everyone when I say - "WE SUFFERED" .
Myself, Dingo and Gina and Mark were all pretty dehydrated because it was so hot out at Kurnell and we were riding hard.
The thing is you don't realize it until you are on the run - how important it is to try and drink at LEAST one bidon per hour on the bike.
I was the last man standing on Sunday after a full 8 hours of training and suffered worse than I ever have. The others were unable to finish at all due to various nutrition probs. I collapsed on the grass at the end of my 24k run off 180k solid bike and laid there for 10mins unable to move - I was absolutely stuffed.
I had not paced correctly on the bike and dehydrated myself to the point where my stomach stopped absorbing fluids and I was just bloating up.
I put it all down to the first 30k of the bike , I pushed too hard and didn't drink enough for the hot conditions - it was all over for me after that - I even backed off to low E2 for the rest of the hit and tried to drink up, but the damage was done . I suffered the rest of the day on the bike and had one hell of a painful run.
.....What a crazy sport we do.....
The Animal
This past Sunday I think I speak for everyone when I say - "WE SUFFERED" .
Myself, Dingo and Gina and Mark were all pretty dehydrated because it was so hot out at Kurnell and we were riding hard.
The thing is you don't realize it until you are on the run - how important it is to try and drink at LEAST one bidon per hour on the bike.
I was the last man standing on Sunday after a full 8 hours of training and suffered worse than I ever have. The others were unable to finish at all due to various nutrition probs. I collapsed on the grass at the end of my 24k run off 180k solid bike and laid there for 10mins unable to move - I was absolutely stuffed.
I had not paced correctly on the bike and dehydrated myself to the point where my stomach stopped absorbing fluids and I was just bloating up.
I put it all down to the first 30k of the bike , I pushed too hard and didn't drink enough for the hot conditions - it was all over for me after that - I even backed off to low E2 for the rest of the hit and tried to drink up, but the damage was done . I suffered the rest of the day on the bike and had one hell of a painful run.
.....What a crazy sport we do.....
The Animal
Stadler says he's ready
This is a direct translation of a post on Stadler's website, see link below. The translation is a bit awkward, though, it's clear what he is saying.
"Liebe friends and fans,
The IRONMAN Hawaii in Kona always moves closer with powerful steps and I feel very good.
The form tunes and I put slowly the legs for the lining up TAP ring phase highly.
After in San Diego already two Doping controls were accomplished seem something nevertheless here in this range to do. On max. 1-2 further training controls is to be quite still counted thus.
I look forward to running and press me the thumbs for the title defense
MahaloNormann
http://www.normann-stadler.info/index.php
"Liebe friends and fans,
The IRONMAN Hawaii in Kona always moves closer with powerful steps and I feel very good.
The form tunes and I put slowly the legs for the lining up TAP ring phase highly.
After in San Diego already two Doping controls were accomplished seem something nevertheless here in this range to do. On max. 1-2 further training controls is to be quite still counted thus.
I look forward to running and press me the thumbs for the title defense
MahaloNormann
http://www.normann-stadler.info/index.php
4 Oct 2005
Spring Clearance
Stuffed after today's morning training session, yet can't afford a new bike?
Then have we got a deal for you!
Margreet and I have `space’ issues and are looking for new homes for the following items. If interested, let us know.
Women’s Orca Predator wetsuit, with sleeves $275
– near mint condition, rarely worn as it was too small (margreet switched to sleeveless)
Training Wheels – several sets
Mavic Ksyrium SSC (good condition) $500
- aero black spokes, Conti GP tires, Mavic hub
Mavic CXP 23 (less than a year old, low mileage) $500
-Mich Pro Race tires, Shimano Ultegra hub
Velocity Spartacus Pros (very low mileage) $500
- black spokes, Conti GP 3000 tires, Velocity hub
Front Zipp 440 Wheel $350
*tireless!!
A few other odds and ends looking to get back into the sport:
Tranz X seat post
Head stems: Ritchey, Azonic and a black/silver no-name one!!
Then have we got a deal for you!
Margreet and I have `space’ issues and are looking for new homes for the following items. If interested, let us know.
Women’s Orca Predator wetsuit, with sleeves $275
– near mint condition, rarely worn as it was too small (margreet switched to sleeveless)
Training Wheels – several sets
Mavic Ksyrium SSC (good condition) $500
- aero black spokes, Conti GP tires, Mavic hub
Mavic CXP 23 (less than a year old, low mileage) $500
-Mich Pro Race tires, Shimano Ultegra hub
Velocity Spartacus Pros (very low mileage) $500
- black spokes, Conti GP 3000 tires, Velocity hub
Front Zipp 440 Wheel $350
*tireless!!
A few other odds and ends looking to get back into the sport:
Tranz X seat post
Head stems: Ritchey, Azonic and a black/silver no-name one!!
Mark Allen on Peter Reid
From Peter Reid's website, a comment from Mark Allen:
"No one with any chance of winning the Ironman would take the ride of last year's champ Norman Stadler lightly. Peter certainly has not. He just completed his monk-like preparation on the Big Island, something that I certainly feel gives him a strong edge over everyone else. He has also dialed in the help of those who can get his bike where it needs to be so that no one, I mean NO ONE, will be able to ride away from him like last year."
http://www.peterreid.com/
"No one with any chance of winning the Ironman would take the ride of last year's champ Norman Stadler lightly. Peter certainly has not. He just completed his monk-like preparation on the Big Island, something that I certainly feel gives him a strong edge over everyone else. He has also dialed in the help of those who can get his bike where it needs to be so that no one, I mean NO ONE, will be able to ride away from him like last year."
http://www.peterreid.com/
The Iron Sheik
*From the October issue of Outside magazine, a profile on Faris Al-Sultan .. here's a bit about his training routine:
"He balances his workouts—up to 450 miles of cycling, 50 miles of running, and nine miles of swimming per week—with studies toward a master's in Arabic language, literature, and history at Munich's Ludwig Maximilian University. He also spends two months a year in the United Arab Emirates, training in temperatures up to 115 degrees. That should help in Kona's notorious lava fields, but Al-Sultan is reluctant to handicap his chances. "The world keeps going its way, whether I win or lose," he says. "It's just a sport, and I can't get crazy about it."
[In metric, that's 724km on the bike, 80km running and 14.5km in the pool.]
http://www.faris-al-sultan.de/
"He balances his workouts—up to 450 miles of cycling, 50 miles of running, and nine miles of swimming per week—with studies toward a master's in Arabic language, literature, and history at Munich's Ludwig Maximilian University. He also spends two months a year in the United Arab Emirates, training in temperatures up to 115 degrees. That should help in Kona's notorious lava fields, but Al-Sultan is reluctant to handicap his chances. "The world keeps going its way, whether I win or lose," he says. "It's just a sport, and I can't get crazy about it."
[In metric, that's 724km on the bike, 80km running and 14.5km in the pool.]
http://www.faris-al-sultan.de/
JH's Ko Olina Tri report
Arrived yesterday to rain, in usually sunny Hawaii, fairly cool to what it usually is.
My gear levers fell to pieces on Saturday, so after getting them replaced and not trying them, my only chance to test my bike before Sunday’s early race start was in the hotel corridor … after 6 laps of level m on the carpet, my bike was ready to go haha .. wow, my bikes gears have never felt so good!
The race was a warm up for the worlds and number 3 in my 5 in a row race schedule
The distance was 600m swim but with a difference. It was designed by a runner and was through 4 beautiful lagoons but with about 300m of runs in between each lagoon …problem was the big hills u had to climb out of after the lagoons. ouch that hurt!......bike was fairly flat 30k and run flat 7.8k around the lagoons…scenery magic!!!
I walked to the race start with a 73 year old guy who told me on the way he was one of the original 3 guys that started the Hawaii ironman. lovely guy and made a speech about it at the end of the race …still races too
A fair few kiwis there and a few aussies plus the locals, all warming up for next week
we all went off in waves which started with a 100m dash to the first downhill into the lagoon…phew 4 ahead of me in first 1 min… 2 by the time we finished the first lagoon and bloody hell it was 2 kiwi chicks!!! .... first one was a bit ahead but 2nd one was perfect to sit on … we cleaned out of the way of everyone else with the hills, climbing out bringing me into e4 without a doubt to hang onto the chicks who tended to get away by 5 meteres at the end of each lagoon …
onto the bike and loving it…. overtook lots of people from earlier waves, road surface great and loving it,a lthough could of done with being pushed …. spotted mark preston from brats who started 3 mins behind me, used that as a carrot and imagined he was riding me down…….about 2k from the end thought I had it in the bag and stretched a bit ready for the run, bloody kiwi guy behind had caught me up coming from nowhere … hooley dooley I had a race on my hands!!!! ....
onto the run (I found my bike v easy this week lol) I was like a rabbit out of there … 2 laps of very light feet I won by 5 mins hehe ... a pair of 250 us $ later (1st prize) .. hmm no trophy just a medal L…. 15th overall incl the 20-30 elites
free food and drink after, and the sun didn,t stop shining .. great day great race !!! ..loved it.
mark preston was about 2.5 mins behind and did v well too winning his age by 10 mins and 20 something overall great effort !... overall aussie guy and girl won the elites with yours truly 2nd aussie home.
Tomorrow will train on the worlds course where the transition is just outside the hotel…should be fun as lots of aussies here to train with, this afternoon I was supposed to be sunbathing, resting but couldn,t help myself racing 5 canadian chicks in the sea…lol..
am I addicted???? (laughing at yourself can be relaxing sometimes!!)
Hope your all well .. more adventures coming soon
jh
My gear levers fell to pieces on Saturday, so after getting them replaced and not trying them, my only chance to test my bike before Sunday’s early race start was in the hotel corridor … after 6 laps of level m on the carpet, my bike was ready to go haha .. wow, my bikes gears have never felt so good!
The race was a warm up for the worlds and number 3 in my 5 in a row race schedule
The distance was 600m swim but with a difference. It was designed by a runner and was through 4 beautiful lagoons but with about 300m of runs in between each lagoon …problem was the big hills u had to climb out of after the lagoons. ouch that hurt!......bike was fairly flat 30k and run flat 7.8k around the lagoons…scenery magic!!!
I walked to the race start with a 73 year old guy who told me on the way he was one of the original 3 guys that started the Hawaii ironman. lovely guy and made a speech about it at the end of the race …still races too
A fair few kiwis there and a few aussies plus the locals, all warming up for next week
we all went off in waves which started with a 100m dash to the first downhill into the lagoon…phew 4 ahead of me in first 1 min… 2 by the time we finished the first lagoon and bloody hell it was 2 kiwi chicks!!! .... first one was a bit ahead but 2nd one was perfect to sit on … we cleaned out of the way of everyone else with the hills, climbing out bringing me into e4 without a doubt to hang onto the chicks who tended to get away by 5 meteres at the end of each lagoon …
onto the bike and loving it…. overtook lots of people from earlier waves, road surface great and loving it,a lthough could of done with being pushed …. spotted mark preston from brats who started 3 mins behind me, used that as a carrot and imagined he was riding me down…….about 2k from the end thought I had it in the bag and stretched a bit ready for the run, bloody kiwi guy behind had caught me up coming from nowhere … hooley dooley I had a race on my hands!!!! ....
onto the run (I found my bike v easy this week lol) I was like a rabbit out of there … 2 laps of very light feet I won by 5 mins hehe ... a pair of 250 us $ later (1st prize) .. hmm no trophy just a medal L…. 15th overall incl the 20-30 elites
free food and drink after, and the sun didn,t stop shining .. great day great race !!! ..loved it.
mark preston was about 2.5 mins behind and did v well too winning his age by 10 mins and 20 something overall great effort !... overall aussie guy and girl won the elites with yours truly 2nd aussie home.
Tomorrow will train on the worlds course where the transition is just outside the hotel…should be fun as lots of aussies here to train with, this afternoon I was supposed to be sunbathing, resting but couldn,t help myself racing 5 canadian chicks in the sea…lol..
am I addicted???? (laughing at yourself can be relaxing sometimes!!)
Hope your all well .. more adventures coming soon
jh
3 Oct 2005
John Hill - Race Number 607
(The first of three stories on our Kona competitors.)
John `Where’s me hat?’ Hill is the most accomplished triathlete representing the Hillbillies in Kona. He is relentless with his training and his passion for the sport is infinite.
The October 15th event will be the fifth race in as many weeks for John – Brat Duathlon, World Duathlon, Honolulu Sprint, Worlds Olympic Hawaii and then the Ironman World Championships.
“All I’ll say is it’s those people that do the work that get the results,’’ John says. “Every year I get people wondering why they don’t get quicker or achieve their goals. The only way to do it is consistency and do the work.’’
With more than 30 ironmans on his resume, including 11 in Hawaii, he asks no more of anyone than he himself is prepared to do. He asks for patience too. After racing 10 years in Kona, John was finally rewarded with his first podium finish, taking fifth in 2004. He had placed 8th the previous two years.
“Those that have chipped away for a year or two or three and [remain] frustrated; remember that it took me four years to even get a medal, 10 years to get on the podium at Hawaii,’’ John says. “If you are realistic about your goals, you’ll enjoy every day. Being fit and healthy is often overlooked, so grab it while you have the opportunity.”
John, apparently sponsored by High5, has represented Australia at every distance, and even Norfolk Island as a duathlete.
At times John is a bit hard to understand. You can teach an engineer how to build a bridge, but not how to spell -- another of life's mysteries. (John claims that he can spell; he’s just a lazy typer!)
John is the rare coach who can outrace most of his athletes. He is amazing to watch, has a wealth of knowledge about racing and nutrition, and is keen to offer advice.
He is demanding in that he writes some of the toughest training programs around, and attracts the most motivated athletes, or so goes his reputation. The results of his athletes show that hard work and dedication pay off.
Yet he’s the first to say that a 180 km bike ride followed by a 32 km run isn’t for everyone.
However, if you see that brick on your Sunday schedule, take it as a sign of confidence. The coach believes in you. Go to bed early Saturday, get up early Sunday and just do it.
John Hill – Race number 607
John `Where’s me hat?’ Hill is the most accomplished triathlete representing the Hillbillies in Kona. He is relentless with his training and his passion for the sport is infinite.
The October 15th event will be the fifth race in as many weeks for John – Brat Duathlon, World Duathlon, Honolulu Sprint, Worlds Olympic Hawaii and then the Ironman World Championships.
“All I’ll say is it’s those people that do the work that get the results,’’ John says. “Every year I get people wondering why they don’t get quicker or achieve their goals. The only way to do it is consistency and do the work.’’
With more than 30 ironmans on his resume, including 11 in Hawaii, he asks no more of anyone than he himself is prepared to do. He asks for patience too. After racing 10 years in Kona, John was finally rewarded with his first podium finish, taking fifth in 2004. He had placed 8th the previous two years.
“Those that have chipped away for a year or two or three and [remain] frustrated; remember that it took me four years to even get a medal, 10 years to get on the podium at Hawaii,’’ John says. “If you are realistic about your goals, you’ll enjoy every day. Being fit and healthy is often overlooked, so grab it while you have the opportunity.”
John, apparently sponsored by High5, has represented Australia at every distance, and even Norfolk Island as a duathlete.
At times John is a bit hard to understand. You can teach an engineer how to build a bridge, but not how to spell -- another of life's mysteries. (John claims that he can spell; he’s just a lazy typer!)
John is the rare coach who can outrace most of his athletes. He is amazing to watch, has a wealth of knowledge about racing and nutrition, and is keen to offer advice.
He is demanding in that he writes some of the toughest training programs around, and attracts the most motivated athletes, or so goes his reputation. The results of his athletes show that hard work and dedication pay off.
Yet he’s the first to say that a 180 km bike ride followed by a 32 km run isn’t for everyone.
However, if you see that brick on your Sunday schedule, take it as a sign of confidence. The coach believes in you. Go to bed early Saturday, get up early Sunday and just do it.
John Hill – Race number 607
2 Oct 2005
The race to kona
Tess left first, then John and on Tuesday it is Steph's turn.
More on each of our three competitors in the days ahead.
More on each of our three competitors in the days ahead.
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